Gingered Pear and Raspberry Pandowdy

The combination of pears and raspberries is a definite palate pleaser. We jazz up this pandowdy by adding candied ginger to the biscuit dough. The effect is a warm and spicy infusion that makes this rustic dessert a comfort food favorite. When you serve this pear-raspberry pandowdy with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on a cold autumn evening, you will have everyone “mmm’ing” and asking for more.–Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson

LC If It Was Up To Us Note

So if it was up to us, the only tweak we’d make to this recipe would be to slip a smidgen chopped candied ginger into the pear and raspberry filling as well as the buttery biscuit dough. But that’s us. You do as you wish……

1 3/4cups (8 3/4 ounces)all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface

3tablespoons plus 1 tablespoon (1 3/4 ounces)granulated sugar

3/4teaspoonbaking powder

1/2teaspoonfine sea salt

10tablespoons (5 ounces)cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

1/3cup (2 ounces)chopped candied ginger

2/3cup plus 1 tablespooncold buttermilk

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Butter a 9-inch cast-iron skillet or 9-inch deep-dish pie pan.

Make the pandowdy pear and raspberry filling

2. Rub the sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a large bowl, then add the pears and lemon juice and toss until evenly coated. Gently fold in the raspberries, then transfer the fruit to the prepared pan. Sprinkle the butter atop the fruit.

Make the pandowdy biscuits

3. Whisk the flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Add the butter and toss until evenly coated. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture is the size of large peas. (Alternatively, you can put the dry ingredients in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the butter is the size of large peas, then transfer to a bowl.)

4. Stir in the candied ginger, then pour in the 2/3 cup buttermilk and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened. The dough will be crumbly, with large pieces of butter still visible.

5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently press the dough together, then press it into a 9-inch circle. Carefully transfer the dough so it’s atop the fruit. Brush the dough with the remaining 1 tablespoon buttermilk and then sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

6. Bake the pandowdy for 30 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350°F (175°C) and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the juices are bubbly and thick. Let cool for 30 minutes before serving. The pandowdy will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.